transport

At a meeting held in the Bundaberg Council Chambers on Friday 6 June 1907 under the presidency of the Mayor, Ald A.E. Avenell it was decided to ascertain the views of the principal residents regarding the advisability of requesting the QATB State Executive Committee to open a Branch Centre in Bundaberg. From 29 August to 31 December 1907 officers attended to 120 patients and travelled 169 miles. The honorary staff performed 346 hours of duty. The first patient treated in the casualty room was Thos Pritchard who had sustained a puncture wound in the palm of his left hand while opening an oyster. The first ‘call out’ was in response to a request from a police officer. However, upon arrival at the Railway Station, it was found that the Brigade’s services were not required. The first donation received was from H.A. Skyring and Sons and the first contributor was Mr H.S. Skyring. The next step of progress was in 1912 when a four-wheel ambulance field wagon pulled by two horses and complete with two stretchers was acquired. The splendid service of the QATB by this time had been worthily recognized by the public of Bundaberg and the district with their most generous financial support to the extent that the Committee in 1912 decided to build a new Centre on land that had been acquired in Maryborough Street. Source: www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/docs/history/Bundaberg.pdf

Ambulance services commenced in Ipswich on 4 November 1901, when the Brisbane Centre Committee opened a Sub-Centre there. Deputy Superintendent W.C. Tomkins was placed in charge and he was assisted by Bearer W. Armstrong and seven Honorary Bearers. The weekly wages paid to Officers Tomkins and Armstrong were £2,10s and £1,16s respectively. The Ambulance premises were situated in Down Street and the plant consisted of two Ashford litters (one kindly lent by the Ipswich Hospital Committee) and one collapsible stretcher. In 1902 a horse and sulky were added to the plant. As a consequence of increased demands made upon the Brigade, premises that had met the requirements of the staff in the past were now considered to be too small. In 1910 the Committee purchased new premises at the corner of Down and Flint Streets at a very satisfactory price. The premises were renovated and enlarged to make a comfortable and convenient Centre. The new premises were further renovated in 1911 and a plant room measuring 40 feet long by 24 feet wide was added. In that year the Committee purchased a four-wheeled wagon fitted with rubber tires for country calls and attending accidents at the various local mines. In expounding upon the value of this wagon the Chairperson in his annual report stated, ‘it is fitted with a hood, roller blinds at the sides (which can be drawn during wet weather), thoroughly ventilated, poles and shafts for one or two horses, is capable of carrying two patients on stretchers, or seven persons in sitting positions on movable seats’. In 1927 the Ipswich Committee decided to close this SubCentre and it was confident that a better service could be given from Ipswich seeing that the roads were very good. The Sub-Centre was re-opened in 1969 as an Ambulance Station and new premises were erected. Source: www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/docs/history/Ipswich.pdf

Ambulance operations were conducted from a small shop in Flinders Street opposite the Palace Hotel. These premises were leased for a term of six months. Superintendent King moved into the building on 4 January 1901. One of the honorary members was put on paid duty for a period of eleven days at six shillings per day to assist. Being unable to procure locally an assistant holding a first aid certificate, it was decided that the Brisbane Centre be requested to send up a qualified officer for appointment to the permanent staff. Honorary Bearer T.W. McIntyre proceeded to Townsville on the ‘S.S. Peregrine’ on 5 January 1901. He was to meet his own expenses and commence duty in Townsville at a salary of eight shillings per day. In July 1901, the Committee purchased a property suitable for Brigade requirements at the corner of Sturt and Stanley Streets for the sum of £1,250 and a further £100 was expended in building a plant room and stable. By 1904, the work had increased to such an extent as to make more room absolutely necessary to enable the Brigade to function efficiently. On 12 July of that year, the Committee resolved to build a Centre that would meet the requirements of the town for Ambulance work for many years. Tenders were invited for the erection of a new brick Centre building on the site of the existing quarters. The successful tenderer was Mr S.A. Anderson, the contract price being £2,059. The foundation stone was laid on 28 September by Mr J. Johnson, the first life member of the Brigade in Townsville, in the presence of 100 people. Source: www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/docs/history/Townsville.pdf